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What you are configuring
Postfix can accept mail for a domain hosted on your VPS and redirect each recipient to another address. The forwarding decision is made with a virtual alias map. A recipient such as [email protected] can be sent to joe@somewhere, while another address on the same domain can point to a different destination.
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This is different from delivering mail to a local Unix account. Virtual aliasing operates on complete addresses, including the domain, and is intended for remote destinations as well as local ones. It changes the SMTP envelope recipient used for delivery; it does not rewrite the message’s headers. The original sender and visible To, Cc, and From fields therefore remain subject to the normal message headers, while Postfix uses the translated envelope recipient to determine where delivery goes.
The basic flow is:
- DNS directs the domain’s incoming mail to the VPS.
- Postfix recognizes the domain as a virtual alias domain.
- A lookup table translates each hosted address to a destination.
- Postfix delivers the resulting message locally or to the remote mail provider.
Virtual aliases are recursive. If one alias points to an address that maps back to the original address, Postfix can loop. Intentional recursion must be terminated by aliasing the affected address to itself; otherwise, correct the mapping. This matters when aliases are chained across several addresses, not only when a line visibly points straight back to itself.
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A forwarding map is a recipient-translation mechanism, not a complete mail-hosting or sender-authentication system. It does not by itself provide a mailbox, rewrite headers, establish a sending reputation, or guarantee that Gmail and other providers will place forwarded messages in the inbox.
Prerequisites before editing Postfix
Point inbound DNS at the VPS
The domain’s MX records must point to the VPS, or to the inbound host that is supposed to hand mail to this Postfix instance. Without that, senders will deliver somewhere else and your forwarding map will never be consulted. If a separate inbound host is intentional, verify that it actually passes the recipient to this Postfix server; merely adding a map on the VPS cannot override the MX destination.
Confirm the VPS can receive and send SMTP
You need a stable public address and a clear policy for TCP port 25. Some providers block or restrict outbound port 25, and firewalls or network policy can prevent direct Internet delivery. Reverse DNS may also be required by the VPS provider or by recipient mail systems. These conditions are provider- and environment-specific; Postfix itself cannot guarantee them.
Inbound reachability and outbound reachability are separate checks. An MX record can direct mail to the VPS successfully while the provider still blocks outbound connections to recipient servers. Check both paths before diagnosing a map as broken. A message accepted by Postfix may remain queued or be deferred if the outbound path is unavailable.
Choose direct delivery or an SMTP relay
With direct delivery, your VPS connects to recipient systems itself. You retain control of the sending IP and its reverse-DNS configuration, but you must handle port-25 availability, queue behavior, bounces, and IP reputation. An authenticated or otherwise approved SMTP relay can be preferable when direct delivery is blocked or unreliable. A relay adds dependence on another service and may change how authentication, encryption, bounce processing, and reputation are managed.
| Decision factor | Direct delivery from the VPS | SMTP relay or smarthost |
|---|---|---|
| Sending IP and reverse DNS | You control the VPS address and its reverse-DNS setup. | The relay generally controls the sending infrastructure. |
| Port 25 | Requires provider and firewall support for outbound SMTP. | Useful when direct port-25 delivery is restricted. |
| Authentication and encryption | Configured between your Postfix host and each recipient system. | Configured for the relay’s approved submission method. |
| Queue and bounce handling | Operated and monitored on your VPS. | Shared with or delegated to the relay according to its service. |
| Reputation | Depends on your VPS IP and sending practices. | Depends substantially on the relay’s reputation and policies. |
| Operational dependence | Fewer third-party dependencies, but more administration. | Less direct infrastructure work, with reliance on the relay. |
The choice does not change the virtual-alias steps. In both cases, Postfix first translates the incoming recipient. The difference occurs when Postfix attempts to deliver the translated message. If you select a relay, follow that provider’s approved submission, authentication, and encryption requirements instead of assuming that direct Internet delivery settings will work unchanged.
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Virtual aliases versus local aliases
Do not substitute /etc/aliases for a virtual-domain map when the addresses include a hosted domain. The two systems address different classes of recipients.
| Property | Local aliases | Virtual aliases |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration | /etc/aliases through alias_maps |
A map such as /etc/postfix/virtual through virtual_alias_maps |
| Lookup key | Local part, such as postmaster |
Full address, such as [email protected] |
| Address scope | Recipients considered local to the machine | Addresses in a declared virtual domain |
| Remote destinations | Not the mechanism for domain-wide remote forwarding | Supports destinations such as joe@somewhere |
A local alias can still be a destination of a virtual alias. For example, a virtual address can map to postmaster, after which local alias processing applies. The important distinction is that the incoming hosted address must be handled by the virtual map. If only a local username works during testing, that often indicates that you tested /etc/aliases rather than the virtual-domain path.
Plan the address list before editing the file. Decide which complete addresses should exist, which destination each one uses, and whether any address should intentionally remain local. Explicit entries make it easier to reject misspelled or abandoned recipients and avoid the broad behavior of a catch-all.
Configure the virtual alias domain
1. Check supported map types
Postfix installations do not all provide the same database back ends. Run:
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postconf -mUse a map type listed by that command. hash: is common on many installations; the official virtual-domain example also uses lmdb:. The prefix in virtual_alias_maps must match the type you later pass to postmap. A valid source file is not enough if Postfix is configured to read a different backend.
2. Declare the domain and map in main.cf
Edit /etc/postfix/main.cf and add or adjust:
virtual_alias_domains = example.com
virtual_alias_maps = lmdb:/etc/postfix/virtualReplace example.com with your domain. If your system supports only a hash map, use:
virtual_alias_maps = hash:/etc/postfix/virtualThe virtual-domain declaration is required even when individual recipient mappings exist. It tells Postfix that the domain is accepted as a virtual alias domain rather than treated as an unrelated relay destination. If you host more than one forwarding domain, declare each intended virtual alias domain according to your Postfix configuration syntax and keep their mappings unambiguous.
3. Keep the domain out of conflicting classes
Do not also list the forwarding domain in mydestination or relay_domains. Misclassification can produce relay access denied or mail loops back to myself. A domain handled by virtual_alias_domains should not simultaneously be classified as a local destination or as a relay domain.
When troubleshooting, inspect the effective values rather than relying on memory about distribution defaults. A domain can appear in an included configuration file, a control-panel-generated setting, or another list you did not edit directly. The effective configuration is what determines how Postfix classifies the recipient.
4. Add recipient mappings
Create or edit /etc/postfix/virtual. The official pattern is:
[email protected] postmaster
[email protected] joe@somewhere
[email protected] jane@somewhere-elseEach line contains an incoming recipient and its destination, separated by whitespace. Use the complete incoming address, not only the username. You can map several addresses to one destination or send them to different destinations. Keep one mapping per line so that an edit, review, or later removal is easy to verify.
The destination can be a remote address such as [email protected] or a local recipient such as postmaster. A remote destination sends the message through the outbound delivery path you selected; a local destination continues through local alias or mailbox processing. The incoming domain still has to be declared as a virtual alias domain in either case.
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@example.com [email protected]A catch-all accepts otherwise-unmapped recipients. Test it deliberately: broad acceptance can attract backscatter and abuse, so an explicit list of valid addresses is safer for most forwarding-only domains. A catch-all also makes a typo look like a successful delivery, which can hide address-management mistakes until the destination mailbox is overwhelmed.
5. Build the indexed database
After every edit to the source file, rebuild the database with the same map type configured in main.cf:
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sudo postmap /etc/postfix/virtualpostmap writes the indexed lookup database beside the source file. With a hash map, that commonly produces /etc/postfix/virtual.db; LMDB creates its corresponding database files. If the map type or path differs from the configured value, edits will appear to have no effect because Postfix is reading another database.
Rebuild after adding, changing, or deleting a line. Treat the text file as the source of truth and the generated database as a compiled copy. Keep the path passed to postmap identical to the path after the map prefix in virtual_alias_maps; even a similarly named file in another directory is a different map.
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6. Check and reload Postfix
sudo postfix check
sudo postfix reloadRun postfix check after syntax or permission changes. Reloading makes the updated configuration available without stopping the mail service. If a check reports an error, fix it before testing delivery; a successful reload does not make an invalid or stale lookup database correct.
Protect the VPS from becoming an open relay
A forwarding host must accept mail for its own virtual domain without allowing arbitrary Internet users to relay through it. Postfix uses mynetworks to identify authorized clients and relay_domains to identify destinations for which forwarding is permitted. On a public VPS, keep trusted networks narrow—typically localhost and explicitly authorized systems—and do not authorize an Internet-facing subnet merely because it is convenient.
Review the effective configuration with:
postconf -nPay particular attention to mynetworks, relay_domains, recipient restrictions, and any catch-all entry. Postfix’s basic behavior allows clients in authorized network blocks to forward to any destination, so an overbroad mynetworks can turn the server into an open relay even if the virtual alias table is correct.
- Authorize only networks and hosts that genuinely need to submit mail.
- Do not add the whole public VPS subnet or an unrestricted Internet range to
mynetworks. - Keep forwarding destinations limited to the addresses represented by your virtual-domain policy.
- Test an unmapped recipient and confirm that it is rejected rather than accepted by an accidental catch-all.
- Recheck restrictions after installing control-panel or distribution packages that may alter Postfix defaults.
Forwarding for your own virtual domain is not the same as permitting an authenticated client to choose any destination. Keep those concepts separate when reviewing restrictions. A request that arrives for an unmapped recipient should not become a general relay request simply because the connection originated outside the VPS or because a catch-all was added for convenience.
Verify the forwarding setup
Check the effective configuration
Use both commands below and investigate any error before sending test mail:
sudo postfix check
postconf -nThe output should show the intended virtual_alias_domains and the exact virtual_alias_maps path and map type. Also confirm that the forwarding domain is absent from conflicting destination classes and that trusted networks are no broader than intended.
Confirm that the database exists
Look beside /etc/postfix/virtual for the generated database. A hash configuration commonly creates /etc/postfix/virtual.db; an LMDB configuration creates the corresponding LMDB files. A missing or stale database means Postfix cannot use the latest mappings. Compare its modification time with the last successful postmap run after an edit.
Query one mapping directly
Ask the configured map for a known address. Substitute the map type that appears in virtual_alias_maps:
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postmap -q '[email protected]' hash:/etc/postfix/virtualFor an LMDB setup, use lmdb:/etc/postfix/virtual instead. The command should print the destination associated with the address. An empty result indicates that the key is absent from the map or that you queried a different file or map type. Query at least one address after every batch of edits so a typo is found before a live sender exposes it.
Send a message from an unrelated account
Send mail to a mapped address from an account that is not an authorized local client. Confirm that the destination mailbox receives it, then inspect the message headers and the sender-side mail log. Headers show the resulting message path; logs reveal whether Postfix accepted the recipient, queued the message, deferred it, or received a remote rejection.
Use an unrelated sender for the test because a locally authorized client can follow a different submission or relay path. Test one mapped address at a time, record the destination, and avoid concluding that every alias works because a single address succeeded.
Test rejection and catch-all behavior
Send a separate test to an address that is not in the map. It should be rejected unless you intentionally configured a catch-all. If a catch-all exists, test an address that is not otherwise listed and verify that the result matches your abuse and backscatter policy. This negative test is essential: accepting a valid alias proves only that one lookup worked, not that unknown recipients are handled safely.
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“Relay access denied” or “mail loops back to myself”
Check that the domain appears in virtual_alias_domains. Remove it from mydestination and relay_domains, then rebuild the map and reload Postfix:
sudo postmap /etc/postfix/virtual
sudo postfix check
sudo postfix reloadThese errors commonly result from classifying the same domain in incompatible ways. Confirm the effective values with postconf -n rather than checking only the line you remember adding to main.cf.
Edits do not change delivery
Run postmap against the exact source file and map type named in virtual_alias_maps. Then reload Postfix. Query the address with postmap -q and verify that the generated database timestamp changes after an edit. Editing the text file alone does not update an indexed map. If the query still returns the old destination, you are likely compiling or querying a different path from the one Postfix uses.
Only local usernames work
If postmaster works but [email protected] does not, you may be testing /etc/aliases instead of a virtual map. Add the full recipient address to /etc/postfix/virtual, rebuild the configured database, and reload. Remember that local aliases are looked up by local part, while virtual aliases are looked up by the complete address.
Outbound delivery is deferred or rejected
Inspect the mail log and the remote recipient’s response. Check the VPS provider’s port-25 policy, firewall rules, DNS, and reverse DNS. Recipient providers apply their own acceptance and reputation policies, so a correctly configured alias does not guarantee inbox placement. When direct delivery is unsuitable, configure an authenticated or otherwise approved SMTP relay and follow that service’s submission requirements.
Separate a forwarding decision from a delivery decision when reading logs. A successful virtual lookup means Postfix found a destination; it does not mean the destination server accepted the message. Deferrals, remote rejections, queue delays, and reputation responses occur after address translation and must be investigated along the selected outbound path.
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Unexpected forwarding or abuse
Review mynetworks, relay_domains, recipient restrictions, and every virtual-map entry. Look specifically for an unintended catch-all such as @example.com, an overbroad trusted network, or a recursive alias that sends mail back toward itself. Query suspicious addresses with postmap -q and compare the result with the intended address inventory.
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Virtual aliasing solves recipient translation; it does not by itself solve sender authentication or reputation. Adding a map does not automatically configure SPF, DKIM, DMARC, reverse DNS, or acceptance by Gmail and other recipient providers. Those controls depend on your DNS, sending path, VPS provider, relay, and the policies of each receiving system.
Forwarding can also expose the VPS to unwanted traffic when a domain receives messages for addresses that were never intentionally created. An explicit map and a deliberate unmapped-recipient test provide a clearer boundary than a catch-all. If you later add an address, update the source file, rebuild the database, reload Postfix, and repeat both a positive lookup and a negative-recipient test.
Likewise, the examples above do not assume a particular Postfix version or Linux distribution. Use the map back end supported by your installation, verify the effective settings with postconf -n, and treat provider restrictions as deployment requirements rather than Postfix defaults. Keep a record of which map type, file path, domains, and destinations are active so future edits do not accidentally create a second, unused map.
Practical maintenance checklist
- Keep MX records pointed at the intended inbound host and revisit them if the VPS address changes.
- Keep
virtual_alias_domainssynchronized with the domains you actually operate. - After every map edit, run
postmap,postfix check, andpostfix reload. - Use
postmap -qto verify new and changed entries before announcing an address. - Review
postconf -nperiodically for changes to trusted networks, relay domains, and recipient restrictions. - Test an unmapped address whenever a catch-all or policy change is introduced.
- Monitor the mail log and destination feedback for deferred or rejected outbound messages.
- Reassess direct delivery versus a relay if port 25, reverse DNS, or IP reputation becomes a problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I forward mail from my domain to Gmail with Postfix?
Point the domain’s MX records to the VPS, declare the domain in virtual_alias_domains, and add a full-address mapping such as [email protected] [email protected] to /etc/postfix/virtual. Build the configured map with sudo postmap /etc/postfix/virtual, run sudo postfix check, and reload Postfix. Gmail still applies its own acceptance and filtering policies.
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Why does Postfix report relay access denied?
Verify that the domain is listed in virtual_alias_domains and is not also listed in mydestination or relay_domains. Rebuild the map and reload Postfix. Use postconf -n to inspect the effective settings, including values supplied by included configuration.
Why does Postfix say mail loops back to myself?
The domain is often classified in conflicting destination classes, or an alias points back through a recursive chain. Keep the forwarding domain only in the virtual-alias class, correct the mapping, rebuild the database, and reload. Intentional recursion must terminate by aliasing the affected address to itself.
What is the difference between /etc/aliases and virtual_alias_maps?
/etc/aliases and alias_maps look up local parts such as postmaster. virtual_alias_maps looks up complete addresses such as [email protected] and can redirect them to remote destinations. A virtual alias may ultimately point to a local alias, but the incoming hosted address belongs in the virtual map.
Do I need to run postmap after every edit?
Yes. The indexed database is generated from the text source file, so editing the source alone does not change lookups. Run postmap with the same map type and path configured in virtual_alias_maps, then reload Postfix and verify the result with postmap -q.
How can I tell whether my Postfix server is an open relay?
Inspect mynetworks, relay_domains, recipient restrictions, and catch-all entries with postconf -n. Keep trusted networks limited to localhost and explicitly authorized systems, and test an unmapped recipient from an unrelated account. It should be rejected unless a catch-all was deliberately configured.
Should I use direct delivery or an SMTP relay?
Direct delivery gives you control of the VPS sending IP and reverse DNS but requires workable outbound port 25, queue management, bounce handling, and reputation management. An authenticated or approved relay can help when provider restrictions or reputation make direct delivery unsuitable, but it introduces a third-party dependency and its own authentication and submission requirements.
Why are messages accepted by Postfix but not reaching the destination?
A successful alias lookup only proves that Postfix translated the recipient. Check the mail log, outbound port-25 policy, firewall, DNS, reverse DNS, and the remote server’s response. The destination provider may defer or reject mail based on its own reputation and acceptance policies; a relay may be appropriate when direct delivery is unreliable.
The Bottom Line
For domain forwarding on a Linux VPS, use virtual_alias_domains and a full-address virtual_alias_maps file, compile it with postmap, validate with postfix check and postconf -n, and reload Postfix. Keep the domain out of mydestination and relay_domains, restrict mynetworks, test both mapped and unmapped recipients, and choose direct delivery or an approved SMTP relay based on your provider’s port-25, DNS, and reputation conditions.
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